Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday,December 18, 2009
Today, we finished watching the film "Life and Debt". If you weren't here, look for the answers on line (research... they WILL be there). Have a great holiday.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Today, we looked at global sustainability and prosperity. If you need to find out about it (weren't here), read chapter 14 in your text.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Today, we examined the answers students came up with on their assignment (see yesterday). Students then took notes and we discussed sustainable prosperity (how to achieve it and problems with it). We also looked at food consumption around the world.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Today, we finished watching the film Flow. The students then broke into assigned groups in order to answer the questions. Once these were handed in, they were given the questions to answer for Chapter 13. These are located below. They are also due tomorrow.
Chapter 13: Questions
INSTRUCTIONS: Read all of Chapter 13: Impacts on Environments (p 268 – 285). Then answer the following questions (point form is fine).
1. People used to develop the resources they needed locally; today, this is not the case. How does globalization affect resource development?
2. A specific example of this is found in Alberta. Explain the development of this resource, how much we benefit, and the problems we are or could be faced with as a result.
3. What perspectives are there about developing the Oilsands? Place the perspectives on page 275 on a continuum.
4. What alternatives have been suggested instead of oil? What are the pros and cons?
5. Should land be left in its natural state or developed for human uses? Examine the perspectives presented, reach a decision and then justify your reasons.
6. How does the global community attempt to resolve resource development and environmental issues? (mention the agreements and legislation and explain them as well)
Chapter 13: Questions
INSTRUCTIONS: Read all of Chapter 13: Impacts on Environments (p 268 – 285). Then answer the following questions (point form is fine).
1. People used to develop the resources they needed locally; today, this is not the case. How does globalization affect resource development?
2. A specific example of this is found in Alberta. Explain the development of this resource, how much we benefit, and the problems we are or could be faced with as a result.
3. What perspectives are there about developing the Oilsands? Place the perspectives on page 275 on a continuum.
4. What alternatives have been suggested instead of oil? What are the pros and cons?
5. Should land be left in its natural state or developed for human uses? Examine the perspectives presented, reach a decision and then justify your reasons.
6. How does the global community attempt to resolve resource development and environmental issues? (mention the agreements and legislation and explain them as well)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Today, we checked to ensure that all students read the article on water. We then began to watch teh film "Flow". If you were not here, this film can be found in video stores. The questions students were given are as follows (they will be due at the end):
Flow: How Did a Handful of Corporations Steal Our water?
1. What is meant when we say there is a world water crisis?
2. What is the effect of privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply in these areas:
politics:
pollution:
human rights:
dominating world water cartels:
3. What is the crisis at the global scale?
4. What is the crisis at the human scale?
5. What governments are culprits in this? How?
6. What corporations are culprits in this? How?
7. What practical solutions have people and institutions implemented or proposed?
8. What new technologies have been developed to solve this problem?
Flow: How Did a Handful of Corporations Steal Our water?
1. What is meant when we say there is a world water crisis?
2. What is the effect of privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply in these areas:
politics:
pollution:
human rights:
dominating world water cartels:
3. What is the crisis at the global scale?
4. What is the crisis at the human scale?
5. What governments are culprits in this? How?
6. What corporations are culprits in this? How?
7. What practical solutions have people and institutions implemented or proposed?
8. What new technologies have been developed to solve this problem?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Today, Students worked on active reading strategies. These included highlighting main points, paraphrasing and numbering. They read the article below in preparation for the documentary about water.
Should Water Utilities be Privatized?
Experts who support the privatization of water resources believe that private industry has the financial resources to upgrade infrastructures and deliver safe drinking water. Those who oppose privatization argue that it leads to higher prices and violates human rights. As you read the following perspectives, think about the possible impacts of commercial development of water resources.
Privatization ... allows for the de-politicization of environmental and health regulations. Governments that own, operate, and finance water and wastewater utilities cannot properly regulate them. All too often, conflicts of interest prevent them from enforcing compliance with laws and regulations. Privatization reduces these conflicts, freeing regulators to regulate and increasing the accountability of all parties....
Across the country, thousands of facilities fail to comply with laws and standards. Many are inefficiently run: Some are grossly overstaffed; others are staffed by insufficiently trained operators. Many are in need of costly upgrades. Water charges are insufficient to cover these costs. Clearly, many
systems could benefit from the capital investment, expertise, efficiency, and accountability that privatization can bring.
-Elizabeth Brubaker, "A Thirst for Privatization," Financial Post, •
• January 9, 2003; excerpted from "Liquid Assets : Privatizing and
Regulating Canada's Water Utilities," The Centre for Public •
• Management, University of Toronto , 2002.
The private sector was the first to notice: the planet is running out of fresh water at such a rate that soon it will be the most valuable commodity on earth.... Water for profit takes several forms. Backed by the World Bank
and the IMF, a handful of transnational corporations are seeking to cartelize [combine forces to control] the world's water delivery and wastewater systems. Already, Vivendi and Suez of France deliver private water services to more than 200 million customers in 150 countries. Now they are moving into new markets in the [less developed] world, where debt-struck governments are forced to abandon public water services and hand over control of water supplies to for-profit interests.
These companies have huge profits, charge higher prices for water, and cut off customers who cannot pay.... Based on the policy known as full-cost recovery (charging for the full cost of water, including profits for shareholders), the water companies are able to impose rate hikes that are devastating to millions of poor people who are forced to use cholera-laced water systems instead....
-Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians, "The Tide Is High,"
The Guardian , February 26, 2003,
http://www.canadians.org/display document.htm? •
COCtoken =&id=561&isdoc = l&catid=313.
These GATS [General Agreement on Trade in Services] agreements and the ideology that everything should be for sale to the highest bidder not only threaten our rights but deny the sacred nature of water-that it is given to us by the creator and the earth. This is the basis of our traditions and beliefs. ... Together we must oppose the unsustainable belief in unlimited growth and irresponsible development that will eventually destroy the rights of all human beings. Without a new way, one in which our traditions can play a leading role, the earth will not survive.
-The Interior Alliance , BC First Nations and the Council of Canadians , do you think so? •
" Nothing Sacred: The Growing Threat to Water and Indigenous •
Peoples," July 2001, http://www.canadians.org/display_
document.htm?COC_token=&id=237&isdoc = l&catid=78.
Questions: (you don't have to do these, just consider them).
1. What are the main arguments for and against water privatization?
2. Which perspective do you agree with? Support your position with direct quotations from the excerpts in this feature.
3. Do you think the commercial development of water resources would have a positive or negative impact on individuals and communities in Canada?
4. What impact do you think it might have on individuals and communities in countries with shortages of fresh water?
Should Water Utilities be Privatized?
Experts who support the privatization of water resources believe that private industry has the financial resources to upgrade infrastructures and deliver safe drinking water. Those who oppose privatization argue that it leads to higher prices and violates human rights. As you read the following perspectives, think about the possible impacts of commercial development of water resources.
Privatization ... allows for the de-politicization of environmental and health regulations. Governments that own, operate, and finance water and wastewater utilities cannot properly regulate them. All too often, conflicts of interest prevent them from enforcing compliance with laws and regulations. Privatization reduces these conflicts, freeing regulators to regulate and increasing the accountability of all parties....
Across the country, thousands of facilities fail to comply with laws and standards. Many are inefficiently run: Some are grossly overstaffed; others are staffed by insufficiently trained operators. Many are in need of costly upgrades. Water charges are insufficient to cover these costs. Clearly, many
systems could benefit from the capital investment, expertise, efficiency, and accountability that privatization can bring.
-Elizabeth Brubaker, "A Thirst for Privatization," Financial Post, •
• January 9, 2003; excerpted from "Liquid Assets : Privatizing and
Regulating Canada's Water Utilities," The Centre for Public •
• Management, University of Toronto , 2002.
The private sector was the first to notice: the planet is running out of fresh water at such a rate that soon it will be the most valuable commodity on earth.... Water for profit takes several forms. Backed by the World Bank
and the IMF, a handful of transnational corporations are seeking to cartelize [combine forces to control] the world's water delivery and wastewater systems. Already, Vivendi and Suez of France deliver private water services to more than 200 million customers in 150 countries. Now they are moving into new markets in the [less developed] world, where debt-struck governments are forced to abandon public water services and hand over control of water supplies to for-profit interests.
These companies have huge profits, charge higher prices for water, and cut off customers who cannot pay.... Based on the policy known as full-cost recovery (charging for the full cost of water, including profits for shareholders), the water companies are able to impose rate hikes that are devastating to millions of poor people who are forced to use cholera-laced water systems instead....
-Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians, "The Tide Is High,"
The Guardian , February 26, 2003,
http://www.canadians.org/display document.htm? •
COCtoken =&id=561&isdoc = l&catid=313.
These GATS [General Agreement on Trade in Services] agreements and the ideology that everything should be for sale to the highest bidder not only threaten our rights but deny the sacred nature of water-that it is given to us by the creator and the earth. This is the basis of our traditions and beliefs. ... Together we must oppose the unsustainable belief in unlimited growth and irresponsible development that will eventually destroy the rights of all human beings. Without a new way, one in which our traditions can play a leading role, the earth will not survive.
-The Interior Alliance , BC First Nations and the Council of Canadians , do you think so? •
" Nothing Sacred: The Growing Threat to Water and Indigenous •
Peoples," July 2001, http://www.canadians.org/display_
document.htm?COC_token=&id=237&isdoc = l&catid=78.
Questions: (you don't have to do these, just consider them).
1. What are the main arguments for and against water privatization?
2. Which perspective do you agree with? Support your position with direct quotations from the excerpts in this feature.
3. Do you think the commercial development of water resources would have a positive or negative impact on individuals and communities in Canada?
4. What impact do you think it might have on individuals and communities in countries with shortages of fresh water?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Today, I gave mini English lessons on when to use "who", and how to use possessions appropriately.
I then gave them to following reading to actively read and be ready to answer a question on tomorrow at the beginning of class.
Today, the bottled water industry, which virtually did not exist 10 years ago, is worth US$ 100 billion a year. So who should have control over safe drinking water-the industry, or government?
The Privatization of Water
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICI)) is a group of more than 80 • journalists from about 40 countries. The group was organized about seven years ago as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. ICIJ operates under the assumption that everything today is global - and in order to get the true picture of any issue, investigative journalism must be carried out globally. In 2002, ICIJ explored the issue of water privatization. As you read its findings, consider whether the privatization of water is an opportunity or challenge of globalization-or both.
In 1990, or 12 years ago, there were private operations in the drinking water field in 12 countries. They are now in 56 countries. If you throw in wastewater services and sanitation, as well as drinking water, they’re in more than 100 countries now. That's a tremendous expansion in just 12 years. If there was a McDonald's sign over this industry, it would read "300 million served." That's the number of people who get their water from
private utilities.
The companies have been quite successful in promoting themselves as the providers of water that is cheaper and more efficient. That's how they sold themselves around the world. What this means is that, in places like Africa, Asia, Latin America, you were formerly paying your water bill to a public utility that was controlled by elected politicians. When it goes private, you're paying it to a private company. There's less transparency,
less accountability, and part of the profits each time you flush the toilet or open the tap are going off to places, most likely Britain and France
that North America is a prime
[This expansion is] also happening in North America. Actually, North America is a prime target, the crown jewel for the water industry. Right now, in Canada and the United States, only 5 per cent of the water market is private; most is public. But we have seen major contracts in places like Atlanta, Indianapolis, Puerto Rico and, here in Canada, in Moncton, Halifax, and Hamilton.
When we started this research, we had 10 [water] companies on our list and now there's six, so there's been tremendous concentration just within the year. Really there are three giants-Vivendi and Suez, both from France, and Thames, which is based in England but owned by a German conglomerate, RWE. We're talking big here. These three companies combined employ twice as many people as the entire Canadian government. Their annual sales, for example: one company in Bolivia, its annual sales are twice the size of the gross national product of the entire country.
- Excerpted from "Water for Profit," CBC News Indepth,
• February 4, 2003, http://www.cbc.ca /news/features /water/qanda .html.
In Bonnyville, you likely have easy access to clean drinking water; yet in many areas of the world, including some First Nations communities in Canada, clean drinking water is not readily available. Some First Nations communities have to boil their water before they can drink it or wash with it. In 2005, almost 1000 residents of the Kashechewan First Nation of Northern Ontario were evacuated to neighbouring towns for treatment of the health effects of using tainted water. Many of them were suffering from skin conditions such as eczema.
In discussions about the economic and social gaps among individuals, communities, or countries, the term disparity is used. Disparity implies a "more or less" comparison or a "high, medium, or low" type of ranking. Statistics are most often used to help understand disparities around the world. Statistics offer numbers based on researched facts as a basis for comparison.
The following 2002 statistics from the World Health Organization show disparity in access to clean drinking water and sewage systems around the world.
· 17% of the world's population (l.1 billion people) did not have access to safe water sources
· Nearly two-thirds of the 1.1 billion people without access to safe water lived in Asia
· In sub-Saharan Africa, 42% of the population did not have access to safe water
· More than half of the population used water piped to their homes or yards which protected their health and freed them (mostly women and girls) from the difficult task of collecting water.
You probably take water for granted. You drink it, prepare food with it, wash with it, and swim in it. But how much water do you really need? The recommended basic water requirement is 50 litres per person per day. Yet the average Canadian uses up to seven times this amount. That's 350 litres of water a day!
Compare this to someone living in Gambia in Africa. He or she has only 4.5 litres of water to use each day. What impact does a lack of fresh water have on individuals and communities in water-stressed regions of the world?
Providing fresh water promises to be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Most experts agree that a global water crisis is looming. Over the next 25 years, the number of people in the world who will face water shortages is expected to increase dramatically. Before the agricultural and industrial revolutions, fewer than one billion people competed for the available fresh water. Today, more than six billion people compete for the same amount of water. This figure will be at least eight billion-and perhaps as high as 10 billion-by the year 2050. How can governments ensure that this growing population has access to fresh water?
Fast Facts: There are six billion people in the world today. According to the United Nations, at least 1.3 billion do not have access to clean drinking water; another 2.5 billion lack proper sewage and water sanitation services.
Many people think of water as a public trust-an essential, life supporting resource for the benefit of everyone that should not be exploited for profit. That is why, in most countries of the world, water services have traditionally been provided by public utilities.
In recent years, however, a new global water industry is seeking to privatize water resources and services in many countries. Local governments often lack the money needed to upgrade aging water infrastructure. Instead, they issue long-term contracts to transnational corporations to manage water services.
I then gave them to following reading to actively read and be ready to answer a question on tomorrow at the beginning of class.
Today, the bottled water industry, which virtually did not exist 10 years ago, is worth US$ 100 billion a year. So who should have control over safe drinking water-the industry, or government?
The Privatization of Water
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICI)) is a group of more than 80 • journalists from about 40 countries. The group was organized about seven years ago as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. ICIJ operates under the assumption that everything today is global - and in order to get the true picture of any issue, investigative journalism must be carried out globally. In 2002, ICIJ explored the issue of water privatization. As you read its findings, consider whether the privatization of water is an opportunity or challenge of globalization-or both.
In 1990, or 12 years ago, there were private operations in the drinking water field in 12 countries. They are now in 56 countries. If you throw in wastewater services and sanitation, as well as drinking water, they’re in more than 100 countries now. That's a tremendous expansion in just 12 years. If there was a McDonald's sign over this industry, it would read "300 million served." That's the number of people who get their water from
private utilities.
The companies have been quite successful in promoting themselves as the providers of water that is cheaper and more efficient. That's how they sold themselves around the world. What this means is that, in places like Africa, Asia, Latin America, you were formerly paying your water bill to a public utility that was controlled by elected politicians. When it goes private, you're paying it to a private company. There's less transparency,
less accountability, and part of the profits each time you flush the toilet or open the tap are going off to places, most likely Britain and France
that North America is a prime
[This expansion is] also happening in North America. Actually, North America is a prime target, the crown jewel for the water industry. Right now, in Canada and the United States, only 5 per cent of the water market is private; most is public. But we have seen major contracts in places like Atlanta, Indianapolis, Puerto Rico and, here in Canada, in Moncton, Halifax, and Hamilton.
When we started this research, we had 10 [water] companies on our list and now there's six, so there's been tremendous concentration just within the year. Really there are three giants-Vivendi and Suez, both from France, and Thames, which is based in England but owned by a German conglomerate, RWE. We're talking big here. These three companies combined employ twice as many people as the entire Canadian government. Their annual sales, for example: one company in Bolivia, its annual sales are twice the size of the gross national product of the entire country.
- Excerpted from "Water for Profit," CBC News Indepth,
• February 4, 2003, http://www.cbc.ca /news/features /water/qanda .html.
In Bonnyville, you likely have easy access to clean drinking water; yet in many areas of the world, including some First Nations communities in Canada, clean drinking water is not readily available. Some First Nations communities have to boil their water before they can drink it or wash with it. In 2005, almost 1000 residents of the Kashechewan First Nation of Northern Ontario were evacuated to neighbouring towns for treatment of the health effects of using tainted water. Many of them were suffering from skin conditions such as eczema.
In discussions about the economic and social gaps among individuals, communities, or countries, the term disparity is used. Disparity implies a "more or less" comparison or a "high, medium, or low" type of ranking. Statistics are most often used to help understand disparities around the world. Statistics offer numbers based on researched facts as a basis for comparison.
The following 2002 statistics from the World Health Organization show disparity in access to clean drinking water and sewage systems around the world.
· 17% of the world's population (l.1 billion people) did not have access to safe water sources
· Nearly two-thirds of the 1.1 billion people without access to safe water lived in Asia
· In sub-Saharan Africa, 42% of the population did not have access to safe water
· More than half of the population used water piped to their homes or yards which protected their health and freed them (mostly women and girls) from the difficult task of collecting water.
You probably take water for granted. You drink it, prepare food with it, wash with it, and swim in it. But how much water do you really need? The recommended basic water requirement is 50 litres per person per day. Yet the average Canadian uses up to seven times this amount. That's 350 litres of water a day!
Compare this to someone living in Gambia in Africa. He or she has only 4.5 litres of water to use each day. What impact does a lack of fresh water have on individuals and communities in water-stressed regions of the world?
Providing fresh water promises to be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Most experts agree that a global water crisis is looming. Over the next 25 years, the number of people in the world who will face water shortages is expected to increase dramatically. Before the agricultural and industrial revolutions, fewer than one billion people competed for the available fresh water. Today, more than six billion people compete for the same amount of water. This figure will be at least eight billion-and perhaps as high as 10 billion-by the year 2050. How can governments ensure that this growing population has access to fresh water?
Fast Facts: There are six billion people in the world today. According to the United Nations, at least 1.3 billion do not have access to clean drinking water; another 2.5 billion lack proper sewage and water sanitation services.
Many people think of water as a public trust-an essential, life supporting resource for the benefit of everyone that should not be exploited for profit. That is why, in most countries of the world, water services have traditionally been provided by public utilities.
In recent years, however, a new global water industry is seeking to privatize water resources and services in many countries. Local governments often lack the money needed to upgrade aging water infrastructure. Instead, they issue long-term contracts to transnational corporations to manage water services.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Today, we finished watching"Addicted to Plastic". Students then wrote a paper on what they learned from the film.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Today, students handed in their Chapter 12 questions. They also answered the following questions: How reliant is the globe on oil? What problems (social, political, economic) result form this reliance? Explain fully.
These questions were posed to allow students to demonstrate the knowledge they gained from watching the video about oil last week.
Students then watched the film "Addicted to Plastic", which shows the problems plastics have resulted in globally as well as offering some solutions. While there are no questions, they will need to answer some after. It is imperative that they watch this actively as it will also aid them in their final essay development.
These questions were posed to allow students to demonstrate the knowledge they gained from watching the video about oil last week.
Students then watched the film "Addicted to Plastic", which shows the problems plastics have resulted in globally as well as offering some solutions. While there are no questions, they will need to answer some after. It is imperative that they watch this actively as it will also aid them in their final essay development.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Today, you will finish watching the documentary "A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash". You will also finish answering the questions and hand them in.
I then want you to read Chapter 12: Challenges and Opportunities of Economic Globalization (Pages 248 - 267) in your text ans answer the following questions:
Chapter 12: Questions (20)
1. Why have the World Bank and the World Monetary Fund been targeted by anti- globalization protesters? (5)
2. Those who support the World Bank believe… (1)
3. Those who do not support the World Bank believe….(2)
4. How is the World Bank attempting to improve the situation for developing
countries? (4)
5. People who support the International Monetary Fund believe… (3)
6. People who don’t support the International Monetary Fund believe…(5)
I then want you to read Chapter 12: Challenges and Opportunities of Economic Globalization (Pages 248 - 267) in your text ans answer the following questions:
Chapter 12: Questions (20)
1. Why have the World Bank and the World Monetary Fund been targeted by anti- globalization protesters? (5)
2. Those who support the World Bank believe… (1)
3. Those who do not support the World Bank believe….(2)
4. How is the World Bank attempting to improve the situation for developing
countries? (4)
5. People who support the International Monetary Fund believe… (3)
6. People who don’t support the International Monetary Fund believe…(5)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Today you will watch the documentary "A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash". There are questions that need to be answered as you watch. If you are not here, you will have to arranged to view this documentary at lunch.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Today, we examined the expansion of economic globalization. If you were not here, read chapter 11. I have placed the notes in your portfolio.
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